The Portland daily press., 1887-02-08
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Senate and House Conference
on the Mormon Bill.
An Agreement Probable on the
Senate Fishery Bill.
Seekers After the Lewiston Post
Office at Washington in Force.
William Henry clifford at Work for
Creenleaf.
Especial to the Press.l


The Mormon bill, which went through the
House with rush some weeks ago, is having
difficult time in conference between the
Senate and House. Action by the confer
ence committee was delayed for some little
time by the fact that Senator Edmunds, the
head of the committee on the part Of the
Senate, was so taken up with telephone mat
tiers that he could find no time to attend to
the anti-polygamy bill. Last Friday, how
ever, the committee succeeded in getting to-
gether. but after about four hours heated
discussion were unable 10 agree, and adj
journed until Saturday. They were, how
ever, no better able to agree on Saturday
than on Friday, and again they adjourned
until tomorrow (Tuesday) The disturbing
element is said to be Congressman Patrick
Collins of Massachusetts,, who although
appointed as House conferee to help secure
the agreement to the House amendments,
instead of so doing, opposes the bill as
passed by the House, and wishes the con-
ferees to substitute another bill for it, which
is thought to be much more favorable to the
Mormons than the bill as it was passed. The
chief feature of the Collins bill is that it gives
Utah the right of Statehood if she gives up
polygamy. 1t is rather in the nature of
political maneuvre, as it is expected that
Utah would be Democratic, and that then
three electoral votes would be secured for
the Democratic ticket. The Senate con-
ferees are willing to accept the House
amendments, and only the opposition of
Collins, who as before said was appointed to
secure the adoption of the very thing he is
opposing prevents an'immediate agreement
When either body appoints a conference
committee it is expected that individual
preferences will be set aside, and that the
conferees will act as a unit in attempting to
secure the wishes of their body and not their
own, and Collins's action therefore causes
considerable surprise and comment. The
friends Of the bill in its present form still
expect to secure its final adoption.
Postmasters Commissioned.
Simon C. Hastings has been commissioned
postmaster at Sidney, Me-. and John Haley
at Rangeley, Me.
The Fishery Question.
The House foreign affairs committee will
tomorrow probably succeed in reaching an
agreement upon the Senate fishery bill 1t
is generally expected that they will vote to
substitute for the bill passed by the Senate
a measure like that recommended by Seere-
tary Manning. Probably the resolutions
contained i'll the Secretary's letter will be
adopted without change. Chairman Belmont
is very emphatic in his denials that this
change is proposed in order to prevent any
legislation, as is claimed by many supporters
of the Senate bill. but says that they prefer
it because it is more clear and positive. In
spite of his denial, however, there are many
who believe that such change will result in
all action falling through, and that this re-
suit will not be at all distasteful to the
administration.
The Lewiston Post office.
Seekers after the Lewiston post Office are
beginning to arrive in force. F. A. Conant,
who has been declared out of the race, has
been here for a week past and says he is in
the race to stay and has hopes of success.
w. II. Clifford and ''Ye Ancient Mariner
Morton are putting in their best work for
Greenleaf, and today ex-Mayor Walker ar
rived from North Carolina, where he has
been sojourning during the winter, and is
looking after his interests. Colonel Charles
II. 0sgood is also here to help Walker along.
Lyford does not appear to have any repre-
sentative on the ground. Postmaster Little's
term expires on Saturday next. So their
agony will soon be over.
Importation of Animals on the Maine
Frontier.
Assistant Secretary Fairchild has written
a circular letter to collectors of customs in
Maine whose districts include the northern
frontier, in regard to the importation OF ami
mails for breeding purposes. They are in
strncted to issue the necessary directions to
their subordinates for the purpose of en-
forcing the departments decision of June 5,
1886, and seeing that no animals are admitted
to free entry under the provision of the free
list" for animals specially imported for
breeding purposes" except when the Gus
toms officers at the ports of importation are
clearly Of opinion that breedingi is the special
and not the incidental object of the importa-
tion. These officers are also to be instructed
that animals imported for sale or for specu-
lation or f0r working purposes cannot be ad-
mitted under such provisions on the pre-
sumption that the animals may at future
period be used for breeding.
Tariff Matters.
Mr.. Reed of Maine has endeavored to in
duce Judge Kelley to include in his bill a
proposition to take off one-half of the duty
on sugar and not to limit his motion to the
tobacco tax, but Kelley declined.
Nominations Confirmed.
The Senate has confirmed these Maine
nominations:
Postmasters-D. j. Douglass, I'd, at Bridgton;
j. Goodwin, South Berwick; w. j. Bradbury
Fairfield; II. II. Penniman, Winthrop; II. +.
Libby, Pittsfeld.